Meridian Energy Group, Inc., the emerging growth refining firm and leading innovator in advanced technology and environmentally-beneficial petroleum processing facilities, announced that the company has selected Emerson, a global leader in automation control systems and technologies, as the Main Automation Partner at the Davis Refinery in Belfield, North Dakota. The Davis Refinery is the first full-conversion “greenfield” refinery being constructed in the United States since 1976.

Emerson, headquartered in St. Louis, Mo., with local offices in Williston and Mandan, N.D., is a leader in helping customers complete projects on time and under budget and optimize overall refinery operational performance. The control systems and technologies that Emerson will provide to the Davis project are just one more measure Meridian has employed to ensure that Davis will set the standard of the Lowest Achievable Emission Rates (“LAER”) in the industry. Meridian has initiated site preparation and grading at the Davis Refinery site and is proceeding with final design and equipment fabrication and procurement with full construction resuming in 2019.

“We are pleased to have partnered MDR with Emerson and we are looking forward to developing the Davis Refinery with the support of their technology,” said Lance Medlin, Meridian Executive Vice President of Projects.

“Emerson is committed to helping the industry improve capital project execution while also optimizing long-term operations through improved safety and production performance,” said Nathan Pettus, Vice President of Global Sales and Projects for Emerson’s systems and solutions business. “Advanced automation technologies are making those improvements achievable, and we look forward to helping Meridian reach their goals. The Emerson solution includes the integrated control and safety system as well as terminal manager, truck loading, leak detection, tank gauging, and other components that, combined, enable Meridian to have a safe and reliable facility, as well as maximum output and limited downtime.”

Mark Fonda, Meridian Executive Vice President of Engineering, said of the signed agreement with Emerson, “The Davis Refinery will utilize the latest generation of digital technology from the ground up to provide the most efficient and powerful data handling environment. This will include technologies such as a wireless smart grid, advanced process control, integrated field data management and predictive analytics to optimize the operation in real-time. In totality, these systems will generate intrinsic benefits in equipment reliability, health and safety, and environmental compliance.”

John Wilson, Vice President of Global Projects and Strategic Accounts for Emerson’s final control technologies, said, “Emerson is honored to work with Meridian as partners to ensure the Davis Refinery project, using digital technologies, achieves the LAER standards, which are the best in the industry. Emerson’s final control portfolio of valves and actuation offer a unique solution, when integrated to the Emerson digital ecosystem, that will enable Meridian to have the benefit of a full-scale data analysis and reliability system.”

About Meridian Energy Group, Inc.

The Mission of Meridian Energy Group, Inc. is to provide long-term shareholder value through the development and operation of the cleanest, most environmentally-beneficial and profitable crude oil refineries in the world, with refinery developments in both North Dakota and Texas. Established in 2013, Meridian has offices in Belfield, North Dakota, Houston, Texas and Irvine, California.